Easy to Don and Secure Martial Arts Uniform

ABSTRACT

A martial arts uniform is disclosed that does not require any tying and is easy to put on and secure. The uniform employs a fastener system that those with limited dexterity can easily use. A jacket includes fasteners (VELCRO®) to replace traditional fabric string ties. A martial arts belt is pre-knotted and secured and then is severed so that one can put it on. It includes fasteners (VELCRO®) to fasten the ends of the belt together.

PRIORITY

This application claims the priority under 35 USC §119 of ProvisionalApplication 60/691,139 entitled “Easy Fasten Uniform” filed on Jun. 16,2005 and having Moses S. Chambliss as the inventor. Application60/691,139 is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety but isnot admitted as prior art.

BACKGROUND

Traditional martial arts practice includes the use of a standarduniform, or “Gi”, which includes the jacket, pants, and belt. Althoughsome Tae Kwon Do uniforms use a simple pull-over uniform top, manymartial arts uniforms for karate and other disciplines still use thetraditional wrap/tie uniform jacket. The user dons this top by puttingboth arms through the sleeves and pulling it up over their shoulders.The right half is folded over the torso and secured on the inside usingtraditional fabric string ties. Similarly, the left half is folded overthe right half and tied on the outside. The pants may include adrawstring used to tighten the waist of the pants in order to securethem at the user's waist. The belt is typically colored to signify rankor skill level and is tied around the waist over the jacket in a specialmanner and knotted in the front. The belt also aids to secure theuniform jacket by binding it around the torso.

FIGS. 1A-C illustrate a typical prior art martial arts jacket 100. FIG.1A illustrates the jacket 100 prior to being secured. The jacketincludes a tie string 110 on the outside lapel of the right side, a tiestring 120 on the outside side seam on the right side, a tie string 130on the inside lapel on the left side and a tie string 140 on the insideside seam on the left side. FIG. 1B illustrates the left side of thejacket being folded out and the right side of the jacket being foldedover the left torso and secured in place by tying tie strings 110 and140. FIG. 1C illustrates the left side of the jacket being folded overthe right side of the jacket and secured by tying tie strings 120 and130.

FIG. 2 illustrates typical prior art martial arts pants 200. The pants200 include an pleated waste band 210 with a draw string 220 runtherethrough. The pants 200 may be tightened by pulling the ends of thedrawstring 220 to pull the pleated waste band 210 together. To securethe pants 200 at the appropriate width the drawstring 220 is tiedtogether.

FIGS. 3A-D illustrate a typical prior art martial arts belt 200. FIG. 3Aillustrates the belt 300 being wrapped around an individual (notillustrated). The belt is wrapped around the individual by placing themiddle of the belt 300 at the torso 310 and wrapping the belt 300 aroundthe individual with the belt 300 crossing over itself at the back 310and bringing the ends 330, 340 back around the front. An inner 350 andouter 360 loop of the belt 300 are illustrates as being separated forease, but will be pulled together in actual use. FIG. 3B illustrates theends 330, 340 of the belt 300 being tied a first time. The end 330 isplaced over the end 340 (at point 370) and is then tucked behind end 340(at point 372) and is then tucked back over end 340 (at point 374) toform a first knot.

FIG. 3C illustrates the first knot 380 after the belt 300 is pulledtight and the ends 330, 340 of the belt 300 being looped a second time.For ease of visualization the end 330 has slashes running therethroughto easily distinguish from the end 340. At the conclusion of the firstknot 380 end 330 was proceeding to the right and end 340 was proceedingto the left. Each of the ends 330, 340 is wrapped back toward thecenter. The end 340 is placed over the end 330 (at point 390) and isthen tucked behind end 330 (at point 392) and is then tucked back overend 330 (at point 394) to form the second knot. FIG. 3D illustrates thebelt 300 tied around an individual (not illustrated). The inner loop 350is against the individual (illustrated with dots for ease ofvisualization) and the outer loop 360 that crosses over the inner loop350 at the back 320 is against the inner loop 350. The ends 330, 340 arethen double knotted at the torso 310 (only the second knot 385 isillustrated as the first knot will be therebehind). The end 330 isillustrated with slashes. It should be noted that only the outer loop isknotted and that the inner and outer loops 350, 360 are not connected.Rather the knots hold the inner and outer loops 350, 360 together.

Children and those participants with hand disabilities (e.g., arthritis)may have a difficult time utilizing the tie strings to secure the jacketand possibly to secure the pants. Additionally, they may not be able tosecure the belt in a proper fashion. A non-properly secured uniform canbecome a distraction during training to the user, other users and/or theinstructor. For example, the student may spend time trying to fix theequipment rather than participating in class, may be restricted in themovements they can make or may get hurt if they, for example, trip onloose equipment. Accordingly, it is not uncommon for an instructor, forexample of children's martial arts classes, to spend time at thebeginning of the class fixing the equipment of some of the students. Inaddition equipment that appears to be secured correctly may become looseor shift during class with the active physical movements associated withmartial arts.

According, what is needed is a martial arts uniform that is easier toput on and adjust. A simple martial arts uniform could be used by allusers but would provide advantages to those with limited fine hand motorskills that can adequately secure all parts of typical martial artsuniforms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the various embodiments of the proposedinvention will become apparent from the following detailed descriptionin which:

FIGS. 1A-C illustrate a typical prior art martial arts jacket;

FIG. 2 illustrates typical prior art martial arts pants;

FIGS. 3A-D illustrate a typical prior art martial arts belt;

FIGS. 4A-B illustrate example easy fastening martial arts uniformjackets, according to one embodiment;

FIGS. 5-B illustrate example easy tightening martial arts uniform pants,according to one embodiment; and

FIG. 6 illustrates an example pre-knotted easy to secure martial artsbelt, according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 4A illustrates an example easy fastening martial arts uniformjacket 400. The jacket 400 does not include any tie strings. Rather, thejacket 400 includes a fastener system for securing the inside fold(e.g., the right side being tucked into the left side) and a fastenersystem for securing the outside fold (e.g., the left side being foldedover the right side). According to one embodiment, the fastener systemsmay include hook-and-loop (e.g., VELCRO®) components that connect to oneanother.

The fastener system for securing the inside fold may include a hook (orloop) piece 410 on or near the right outside lapel and a loop (or hook)piece 420 on or near the inside side seam (at a position where it willbe in contact with the right outside lapel when the uniform is on). Whenthe individual is putting on the jacket 400 they would open the leftside of the jacket 400 and bring the right side of the jacket 400 to theleft torso. They would then connect the piece 410 with the piece 420.The pieces of VELCRO® 410, 420 may be relatively small pieces thatsimply provide enough surface area to secure to one another and hold thejacket 400 together. Alternatively, one of more of the pieces of VELCRO®410, 420 may be more substantial in size so as to provide more surfacearea for connecting the pieces of VELCRO® 410, 420 and thus providingflexibility in how the jacket 400 is secured on an individual (e.g.,amount of overlap, amount of tightening).

The piece of VELCRO® 410 may extend from the lapel. Extending theVELCRO® 410 from the lapel may enable the jacket 400 to expand evenfurther. The VELCRO® 410 may extend from the lapel so that the VELCRO®410 need not be secured to the outside of the lapel (exterior of jacket400). The VELCRO® 410 could be connected to inside lapel and extendtherefrom or may be connected at the corner of the lapel so as not toextend on either the inner or outer surface of the lapel.

The fastener system for securing the outside fold may include a hook (orloop) piece 430 on or near the inside left lapel and a loop (or hook)piece 440 on or near the right outside side seam (at a position where itwill be in contact with the left inside lapel when the uniform is on).After an individual secured the right side of the jacket 400 to the lefttorso they would fold the left side of the jacket 400 over the rightside of the jacket 400. They would then connect the piece 430 with thepiece 440. The pieces of VELCRO® 430, 440 may be relatively small piecesthat simply provide enough surface area to secure to one another andhold the jacket 400 together. Alternatively, one of more of the piecesof VELCRO® 430, 440 may be more substantial in size so as to providemore surface area for connecting the pieces of VELCRO® 430, 440 andflexibility in how the jacket 400 is secured on an individual (e.g.,amount of overlap, amount of tightening). The piece of VELCRO® 430 mayextend from the left lapel to enable the jacket 400 to expand evenfurther.

According to one embodiment, the fastener systems (e.g., VELCRO® pieces)may be permanently connected (e.g., sewn, glued, stapled) to the jacket400. However, it is also possible that the fastener systems may beremovably connected (e.g., pins, snaps, clips, buttons).

According to one embodiment, the VELCRO® pieces may be similarly coloredto the jacket 400 so as not to stand out visually. However, the colorsof the VELCRO® pieces need not be the same as the jacket 400. In factthe colors may be secondary colors used on the uniform or may becontrasting colors to be a decorative uniform accent. The fastenersystems for securing the inside fold and the outside fold may in someway be coded differently (e.g., color, text, numbers) so as to clearlyidentify which piece connects to which piece. For example, the VELCRO®pieces 410, 420 may be coded with a number 1 indicating that they arethe first pieces that are to be connected. The pieces may further becoded to identify how the pieces connect (e.g. which piece overlayswhich piece).

As illustrated, the jacket 400 includes the fastener systems locatedroughly in the middle of the jacket 400. The jacket 400 is not limitedthereby. Rather the fastener systems could be located at varying pointson the jacket 400 and could possibly be located at more then onelocation (e.g., top and bottom).

The embodiments of the uniform jacket 400 have been discussed aboveutilizing VELCRO® for the fastener systems. However, the variousembodiments are not limited thereby. Rather, alternative embodiments mayuse buttons, snaps, clips, or buckles to secure the uniform topscorrectly in an easy manner that does not require tying.

According to one embodiment, the fastener systems may provide for meansof adjustment to accommodate individual fit and comfort, user growth,body weight changes, or multiple sized users. This feature can beaccomplished with various methods. In a hook-and-loop system one portioncan be longer or over sized to allow flexibility and multiple fasteninglocations for the mating piece. In systems employing buttons, clips,snaps, or strap-and-buckle there can be one portion that has multiplemating points to accommodate the other portion. A separate extensionwith complementary mating features can also be used as an expansiondevice.

FIG. 4B illustrates an example easy fastening martial arts uniformjacket 450. The jacket 450 includes a fastener system for securing thejacket 450 to an individual in an appropriate manner (right flap overleft torso and left flap over right flap and right torso). According toone embodiment, the fastener system may be hook-and-loop (VELCRO®)components that connect to one another. The fastener system may includea hook (or loop) piece 460 that extends on the exterior of the rightflap of the jacket 450 and a loop (or hook) piece 470 that extends onthe interior of the left flap of the jacket 450. For example, the hook(or loop) piece 460 may extend from approximately the right lapel toapproximately the right side seam and the loop (or hook) piece 470 mayextend from approximately the left lapel to approximately the left sideseam.

When the individual is putting on the jacket 450 they would open theleft flap of the jacket 450 and bring the right flap of the jacket 400to the left torso. They would then fold the left flap over the rightflap and secure the pieces of VELCRO® 460, 470 that extended along therespective outer and inner surfaces of the jacket 450. As the pieces ofVELCRO® 460, 470 are substantial in size it provides a very secureconnection and also provides flexibility in how the jacket 450 issecured on an individual (e.g., amount of overlap, amount oftightening).

The jacket 450 may include more than one piece of VELCRO® 460, 470 toprovide additional support for holding the jacket 450 together (2 piecesillustrated). According to one embodiment, having multiple pieces ofVELCRO® 460, 470 may enable material to be placed therebetween (e.g.,padding for sparring) and then be secured in place when the VELCRO® 460,470 is connected.

FIG. 5A illustrates example easy tightening martial arts uniform pants500. The pants 500 may include a pleated waste band 510 and may have adrawstring (or belt) 520 located therein for tightening the waste band510. The ends of the drawstring 520 may exit the waste band 510 at ornear the sides of the pelvis. The drawstring 520 may include a fastenersystem for securing the ends of the drawstring 520 together and thussecuring the waste band 510 at a particular size. The fastener systemmay include hook-and-loop (e.g., VELCRO®) components that connect to oneanother. One end 530 of the drawstring 520 may have a hook (or loop)piece 540 connected thereto facing in (or out) and the other end 550 mayhave a loop (or hook) piece 560 connected thereto facing out (or in).The VELCRO® pieces 540, 560 may extend from the drawstring 520 or may bemounted on an upper surface on one end (e.g., 540) and a lower surfaceon the other end (e.g., 530).

To tighten the pants 500 an individual would pull the drawstrings 520and then place the end of the drawstring 520 having the VELCRO® facingin (e.g., 530) over the end having the VELCRO® facing out (e.g., 550).The pieces of VELCRO® 540, 560 may be relatively small pieces thatsimply provide enough surface area to secure to one another and hold thepants 500 at the appropriate width. Alternatively, one of more of thepieces of VELCRO® 540, 560 may be more substantial in size so as toprovide more surface area for connecting the pieces of VELCRO® 540, 560and thus providing more flexibility in the width that the pants 500 canbe adjusted to.

The VELCRO® 540, 560 may be permanently attached to the drawstring 520or may be removably connected thereto. The VELCRO® 540, 560 may be thesame color as the pants 500 or may be different colors. The VELCRO® 540,560 may be coded in some fashion to help determine which piece getsfolded over which piece. The fastener system is not limited to VELCRO®.Rather, it may be any alternate easy connecting system that does notrequires tying such as buttons, snaps, clips, or strap-and-buckle asdescribed with regard to the jacket 400.

The drawstring 520 is not limited to exiting the pants 500 in the front(on the sides of the pelvis), having both ends of the drawstring 520being movable, or having a single position (e.g., front) with which totighten the pants 500. Rather, the drawstring 520 could exit the pants500 from the side. The drawstring 520 may have one side secured and mayprovide for the tightening of the pants 500 by pulling the other side.For example, the end 550 of the drawstring 520 may be secured to thepants 500 and the end 530 may be pulled to tighten the pants 500. Theend 530 may include VELCRO® 540 connected to an interior surface that issecured to VELCRO® 560 that is connected to either an exterior of theend 550 (if the end is secured external to the waste band 510) or theexterior of the pants 500 (if the end 550 is secured internal to thewaste band 510).

FIG. 5B illustrates example easy tightening martial arts uniform pants570. The pants 570 may include a pleated waste band 575 and may havemultiple (e.g., 2) drawstrings (or belts) 580, 585. One drawstring 580may control the front of the waste band 575 and one drawstring 585 maycontrol the back of the waste band 575. The drawstring 580 may besecured at around the left hip and may extend around the front and thenexit at around the right hip. The drawstring 580 may include VELCRO® 590on an interior surface and the pants 570 may include VELCRO® (notvisible) on an exterior surface behind about the right hip. Thedrawstring 585 may be secured at around the right hip and may extendaround the back and then exit at around the left hip. The drawstring 585may include VELCRO® 595 on an interior surface and the pants 570 mayinclude VELCRO® 597 on an exterior surface in front of about the lefthip.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example pre-knotted easy to secure martial artsbelt 600. The belt 600 is pre-tied into its correct configurationincluding the knot (or double knot) 610 for a range of waste sizes. Theknot 610 may be secured together either temporarily or permanentlyusing, for example, glue, a rivet, a stitch, VELCRO® or other securingmechanism. The belt 600 may be wrapped around an individual twice sothat it includes an inner loop 620 and an outer loop 630. The inner andouter loops 620, 630 of the belt 600 may also be secured together eithertemporarily or permanently using, for example, glue, a rivet, a stitchVELCRO® or other securing mechanism. The belt 600 may be severed at aportion away from the knot (e.g., side, back) and a fastener system maybe included to secure the belt 600 back together. According to oneembodiment, the fastener system includes hook-and-loop (VELCRO®). For abelt having dual loops 620, 630 each loop may be severed at a differentlocation. One end 640 of the belt 600 (inner loop for dual loop belt)may have a hook (or loop) piece 650 connected to an exterior surface andthe other end 660 (outer loop for dual loop belt) may have a loop (orhook) piece 670 connected to an interior surface.

An individual puts the belt 600 on so that the knot 610 is in the frontand then connects the belt together using the VELCRO® 650, 670 (placingthe end 660 over the end 640). For a dual loop belt 600 the VELCRO®would be hidden, for the most part, under the top lop 630 of the belt600. The tightness and size of the belt 600 may be controlled by theamount of overlap of the two sides 640, 660 of the belt 600. Accordingto one embodiment, a dual loop belt 600 may be the tightest when theouter loop 630 completely covers the inner loop 620 and the severedsides of the inner and outer loops 620, 630 connect. The belt 600 may beloosened by reducing the overlap of the outer and inner loops 620, 630and thus providing a view of the inner loop.

The VELCRO® 650, 670 may be permanently attached to the belt 600 or maybe removably connected thereto. The VELCRO® 650, 670 may be the samecolor as the belt 600 or may be different colors. The VELCRO® 650, 670may be coded in some fashion to help determine which piece gets foldedover which piece. The fastener system is not limited to VELCRO®. Rather,it may be any alternative fastening system, such as, buttons, snaps,clips, or strap-and-buckle.

Although the various embodiments have been illustrated by reference tospecific embodiments, it will be apparent that various changes andmodifications may be made. Reference to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristicdescribed in connection with the embodiment is included in at least oneembodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or“in an embodiment” appearing in various places throughout thespecification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

The various embodiments are intended to be protected broadly within thespirit and scope of the appended claims.

1. A martial arts uniform requiring no tying and including a fasteningsystem that makes the uniform easy to don and secure.
 2. The martialarts uniform of claim 1 including a jacket having an inner flap to beplaced on an individual wearing the jacket and an outer flap to wrapover the inner flap, wherein the jacket further includes fasteners tosecure the inner and the outer flaps.
 3. The martial arts uniform ofclaim 2, wherein the fasteners are VELCO®.
 4. The martial arts uniformof claim 2, wherein a first fastener type is located on an exterior onthe inner flap and a second fastener type is located on a interior ofthe outer flap and the first and second fastener types engage onanother.
 5. The martial arts uniform of claim 4, wherein the inner flapis a right flap and the outer flap is a left flap.
 6. The martial artsuniform of claim 4, wherein the fastener on the inner flap includes afirst fastener located near a first lapel and a second fastener locatednear a first side seam and the fastener on the outer flap includes athird fastener located near a second lapel and a fourth fastener locatednear a second side seam and the first and fourth fasteners are securedtogether and the second and third fasteners are secured together.
 7. Themartial arts uniform of claim 4, wherein the fastener on the inner flapincludes extends from near a first lapel to near a first side seam andthe fastener on the outer flap includes extends from near a second lapelto near a second side seam.
 8. The martial arts uniform of claim 1including pants that include a pleated waste band and at least onedrawstring embedded in the waste band, wherein the at least onedrawstring can be pulled to tighten the pants, wherein the at least onedrawstring includes fasteners to secure the drawstring in position. 9.The martial arts uniform of claim 8, wherein the fasteners are VELCO®.10. The martial arts uniform of claim 8, wherein both ends of thedrawstring may be pulled.
 11. The martial arts uniform of claim 8,wherein one end of the drawstring is secured to the waste band and otherend can be pulled to tighten the waste band.
 12. The martial artsuniform of claim 1 including a belt, wherein the belt is pre-knotted andsecured together and is severed at a portion away from the knot andincludes fasteners to secure ends of the severed belt together.
 13. Themartial arts uniform of claim 12 wherein the fasteners are VELCO®. 14.The martial arts uniform of claim 12 wherein an inner loop of the beltand an outer loop of the belt are severed at different locations. 15.The martial arts uniform of claim 12 wherein the knot is secured inplace.